'No need to present Chief Justice' - defense

MANILA, Philippines - A lawyer for Chief Justice Renato Corona on Monday said the reports about Corona's alleged US$10 million dollar accounts are a "bait" to compel the defense to present Corona as witness in the impeachment trial.

Tranquil Salvador III said there is no need for Corona's direct testimony in the trial.

"Walang dapat ipaliwanag... If they have a strong case, why do they have to rely on the evidence of the defense?" Salvador said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

Deputy Majority Leader Romero Frederico Quimbo, spokesperson of the House of Representatives' prosecution team, meanwhile, maintained that they have a strong case against Corona.

"As far as we are concerned, we have presented impeachable offenses. Certainly we have established evidence on the bank accounts. We have established evidence on the real estate properties," Quimbo said.

Both panels meanwhile agreed that there is a need to expedite the impeachment trial.

The trial resumed at 2 p.m. today after a month-long break.

Salvador said the defense is set to present its witness, former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and at least 10 more in the next days.

The defense presented Atienza as witness on Day 34 of the trial proceedings before Congress went on Lenten break on March 23.

Quimbo, meanwhile, said the prosecution will have to set a rebuttal period to finish the impeachment trial soon.

Jinggoy

Senator-Judge Jinggoy Estrada, however, reiterated his call for the defense panel to present Corona to take the witness stand and personally defend himself from accusations.

"Bring the respondent himself to answer the allegations leveled against him. The impeachment court will be very, very happy to hear his side," Estrada suggested to the defense panel.

Estrada gave his statement after Presiding Senator-Judge Juan Ponce Enrile called some testimonies of defense witnesses "irrelevant" and "immaterial."

Estrada said the impeachment court may decide on the impeachment case earlier than expected if Corona takes the witness stand.

"Baka doon pa lang makakabuo na kami ng desisyon," he said.

Besides the impeachment case, Estrada said Corona could also answer allegations about his supposed $10 million deposits in a bank.

But lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas said due process should be given to their client.

"We cannot be bulldozed in presenting evidence and witnesses," Cuevas said.

He also maintained that the non-inclusion of some of the assets of the Chief Justice is not an impeachable offense.

"We may not agree with him but let's give him some consideration," Cuevas said.

The defense panel is expected to present five to six more witnesses before it rests its case.

SALN

The prosecution panel, meanwhile, urged Corona to voluntarily release his latest statement of assets, liabilities and net worth to the public.

Quezon Rep. Erin Tanada, a spokesman of the prosecution panel, said the Chief Justice should make his SALN public for scrutiny.

"The Chief Justice should voluntarily release his SALN to the public and [should not hide] behind an SC resolution," Tanada told an interview with state-run TV network PTV-4.

Tanada said the Chief justice must reveal his SALN publicly if he has nothing to hide.

"Ewan kung bakit takot sya, makakasama ba o makakatulong sa kaso nya? Makikita ba na mas ginawang tama kaya makakaapekto sa kaso nya? There is nothing to fear if he wants to show the truth," Tanada said.

"A question of procedure"

The defense, however, said they will present Corona's latest SALN before the impeachment court .

Defense lawyer Jose Roy III said the presentation of Corona’s new SALN is intended to prove that law allows corrections to the document.

“I think everybody expects us to but at this point it’s a question of procedure. We want to respect the resolutions of the Supreme Court and we are determined to do it that way,” Roy said.

“I think the presentation of the SALN is unavoidable because the issue seems to be that the former SALN (of Corona) was less than accurate although that is not in the allegations,” he added.

Roy said some changes have been reflected in Corona’s new SALN in compliance with Section 10 of Republic Act 6713.

“In my own view, if the new SALN adequately explains the issues raised, then what are we really talking about?” Roy said.

“The law says it can be corrected so obviously you expect that the Chief Justice will take advantage of that law and rely on it,” he added.

Roy said the provisions of the law will form part of the basis for the new entries and additions in the SALN.

Corona has been accused of hiding several million in his bank accounts, both local and foreign denominated, which he supposedly did not include in his SALN.

Corona’s prosecutors also alleged that Corona acquired Ayala Avenue and Bonifacio Ridge condo units in 2004 but reported them only in his 2010 SALN.   - Katherine Manalo, Dennis Carcamo, Alexis Romero and Jamille Domingo